Browntothebone
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2002
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Subject: United Furlough Numbers
This is Keith Rimer, system chief pilot, with a message for United pilots on Monday, June 23.
We announced on June 4 that we would be removing a total of 100 aircraft from our mainline fleet in response to record high oil prices and a softening economy. These reductions will begin in September, continue through the end of 2008 and well into 2009. If you follow the industry, you know that other airlines are taking similar actions. At last count, U.S. network carriers had announced plans to remove nearly 300 mainline aircraft from their fleets by the end of 2009, in order to reduce industry capacity.
Reducing our schedule to get back on the path to profitability in light of dramatically higher fuel costs inevitably involves reducing the number of people we have to run the operation. Reductions in salaried and management staffs have already begun in a number of areas. In flight operations, layoffs of salaried and management employees are expected to begin in mid-July. In total, the number of salaried and management positions at United will be reduced by 1400-1600 people.
With regard to reductions in pilot manpower, our scheduling group is finalizing details of the initial round of reductions for the fall, beginning in September. As a result, we will begin the related process of distributing furlough notices. The first notices will go out in mid-July to furlough approximately 100 pilots for the September flying month. The furlough process will be facilitated through our domiciles and follow contractual procedures.
Overall, our fleet reduction plans include our entire fleet of 94 B737 aircraft as well as six B747s. This will take time to accomplish – well into 2009 before it is complete. We expect that, as we reduce our fleet by these 100 aircraft, we will furlough approximately 950 active pilots by the end of 2009. Due to the number of pilots on military and personal leaves, we currently anticipate that approximately 1450 furlough notices will be distributed over time in order to reduce our active pilot ranks by 950.
We have had ongoing discussions with ALPA concerning ways to mitigate the number of involuntary furloughs. The outcome of these discussions could reduce the number of involuntary furloughs.
As always, we will keep you informed as decisions are made that could affect you. We hope to have more detail on the furlough mitigation actions to share with you as soon as they are finalized with ALPA. Details on the first furloughs for the September flying month will be available in a few weeks. At the appropriate time, your domicile will work with you during this process.
Furloughs are an unfortunate and difficult reality of the airline industry. It's common to find long-tenured pilots who have been affected by furloughs in their careers. We plan to the best extent possible not to be in a situation that requires pilots to be furloughed. However, circumstances unforeseen just several months ago in the case of unprecedented fuel prices are now causing us to adjust our flying and related manpower. As we move forward through this process, we will treat everyone in a respectful manner, understanding the personal impacts that these actions can have.
Clearly, this is a difficult time for us to operate through. However, safety, of course, must remain first and foremost when we fly. While business decisions are being made in response to the circumstances we are faced with as a company, I know that, as pilots, you recognize the importance of a single focus in the cockpit.
Thank you.
This is Keith Rimer, system chief pilot, with a message for United pilots on Monday, June 23.
We announced on June 4 that we would be removing a total of 100 aircraft from our mainline fleet in response to record high oil prices and a softening economy. These reductions will begin in September, continue through the end of 2008 and well into 2009. If you follow the industry, you know that other airlines are taking similar actions. At last count, U.S. network carriers had announced plans to remove nearly 300 mainline aircraft from their fleets by the end of 2009, in order to reduce industry capacity.
Reducing our schedule to get back on the path to profitability in light of dramatically higher fuel costs inevitably involves reducing the number of people we have to run the operation. Reductions in salaried and management staffs have already begun in a number of areas. In flight operations, layoffs of salaried and management employees are expected to begin in mid-July. In total, the number of salaried and management positions at United will be reduced by 1400-1600 people.
With regard to reductions in pilot manpower, our scheduling group is finalizing details of the initial round of reductions for the fall, beginning in September. As a result, we will begin the related process of distributing furlough notices. The first notices will go out in mid-July to furlough approximately 100 pilots for the September flying month. The furlough process will be facilitated through our domiciles and follow contractual procedures.
Overall, our fleet reduction plans include our entire fleet of 94 B737 aircraft as well as six B747s. This will take time to accomplish – well into 2009 before it is complete. We expect that, as we reduce our fleet by these 100 aircraft, we will furlough approximately 950 active pilots by the end of 2009. Due to the number of pilots on military and personal leaves, we currently anticipate that approximately 1450 furlough notices will be distributed over time in order to reduce our active pilot ranks by 950.
We have had ongoing discussions with ALPA concerning ways to mitigate the number of involuntary furloughs. The outcome of these discussions could reduce the number of involuntary furloughs.
As always, we will keep you informed as decisions are made that could affect you. We hope to have more detail on the furlough mitigation actions to share with you as soon as they are finalized with ALPA. Details on the first furloughs for the September flying month will be available in a few weeks. At the appropriate time, your domicile will work with you during this process.
Furloughs are an unfortunate and difficult reality of the airline industry. It's common to find long-tenured pilots who have been affected by furloughs in their careers. We plan to the best extent possible not to be in a situation that requires pilots to be furloughed. However, circumstances unforeseen just several months ago in the case of unprecedented fuel prices are now causing us to adjust our flying and related manpower. As we move forward through this process, we will treat everyone in a respectful manner, understanding the personal impacts that these actions can have.
Clearly, this is a difficult time for us to operate through. However, safety, of course, must remain first and foremost when we fly. While business decisions are being made in response to the circumstances we are faced with as a company, I know that, as pilots, you recognize the importance of a single focus in the cockpit.
Thank you.
